Don't Wanna Be Your Girl || Jensoo

Chapter 27

"You gonna eat that?"

With a small shake of her head, Jennie pushes the untouched plate across the table. She fidgets with the cutlery while Chaeyoung takes an enthusiastic bite out of the abandoned veggie burrito.

A minute passes, during which Chaeyoung chews noisily and Jennie avoids her all too perceptive stare.

"All right, what gives?" Chaeyoung says eventually, with a slight roll of eyes. "Which formerly problematic fave white feminist has the Tumblr hive mind declared persona non grata now?"

"It's not that."

Jennie watches her friend devour another mouthful.

She licks her bottom lip and takes a breath. "I'm meeting Jisoo's mom at dinner tonight."

It's enough to make Chaeyoung erupt into a sudden coughing fit. She thumps her sternum in a bid to dislodge the food stuck in her oesophagus. By the time she recovers, her eyes are streaming and her face is purple.

Alarmed by the choking episode, Jennie offers her a napkin and a sip of water. "Are you okay?"

"Jesus, Jennie. Warn a girl first?" Chaeyoung croaks, dabbing at her cheeks. "You can't just drop a bombshell like that without priming me for it. I mean, I haven't had any caffeine yet today so my sarcastic wit isn't operating at the optimal level required to deal with flimsy plot development so late in the story."

Jennie's expression sours, going from concern to mild irritation. "I often wonder why I even bother confiding in you."

"Because you value my unique perspective and unvarnished honesty. And it's basically my sole narrative function to mock you before dispensing some pithy, quasi-motivational real talk."

In the pointed silence that ensues, Jennie only purses her lips.

"Anyway... parental introductions, huh? Big step." Chaeyoung balls up the napkin and tosses it onto the plate. She folds her arms upon the table and smirks. "Does this mean I should be saving a particular date in my diary?"

"How many times-look, can we put a pin in this once and for all?" Jennie says, her exasperation growing. "Jisoo and I have no intention of getting married in the near or distant future. And, for the record? I don't have a secret bridal gown Pinterest board, I don't spend time crying over women-loving-women wedding photography, and I most definitely don't have a first dance candidates playlist on Spotify. Or any of the other things you've insinuated over the past seven months, so jot that down."

"Marriage is an archaic societal construct; an institution tainted by a long history of patriarchal oppression," Chaeyoung says in a high, nasally voice that Jennie presumes is meant to be a (very inaccurate) impersonation of her. "Are you seriously telling me that if Jisoo got down on one knee and proposed you wouldn't burst into happy tears like the big gay mess you are?"

A muscle ticks in Jennie's cheek while she glares at Chaeyoung.

Chaeyoung stares blandly back, one eyebrow climbing slowly upwards.

Finally, Jennie sighs in defeat.

The smile that edges across Chaeyoung's lips is irritatingly self-satisfied. "Just when I think you've reached peak homo, you manage to surpass yourself. I bet you shit rainbows." But she doesn't revel in her triumph for long. "I thought Jisoo and her mom don't get along?"

"They don't. That's why Jisoo wants me there: as a buffer. She thinks her mom's less likely to criticise her if I'm present."

"Well, that's not awkward at all."